My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 935 - 916: Successive Probing

It wasn’t that the Great General and Lord Zuo were prone to conspiracy theories, but even when Qin Liuxi previously mentioned that Luan Bailin might be trying to wipe out a lineage, they didn’t quite believe it. Luan Bailin’s image was simply too good: top scorer, honorable and incorruptible after taking office, often engaging in charitable acts. Especially after his fiancée disappeared, he would go to the Charitable Hall and refugee camp every year to distribute porridge, claiming to accumulate merit for his fiancée. Who wouldn’t praise him for being sentimental and righteous?

Moreover, he didn’t have a powerful family backing him, yet within just a few years, he had been promoted three times and became a favorite in the eyes of the Saint, proving his excellence.

However, this person, outstanding in their eyes, secretly had an illegitimate child, who was already two years old.

It’s understandable that the Great General, solely focused on worrying about his daughter, didn’t look into him. But no news leaked out at all, which shows how closely he kept it under wraps. Could that deep-seated cunning alone be enough to hide it so well?

The person before them wasn’t as gentle and harmless as he appeared on the surface.

That being said, how many people in the officialdom are truly gentle and harmless? Everyone has their schemes, especially someone who is a favorite in the eyes of the Saint.

If he were really harmless, just his status as a favorite would make people wary and envious, setting up traps for him.

But over the years, while Luan Bailin faced some small setbacks, they were insignificant ripples. On the contrary, because of his status and reputation as a kind person, he had quite good relations.

Now suddenly, the emergence of an illegitimate child has instantly shattered that reputation.

Don’t even talk about it being the mistake of all men or that he erred because he drank too much. If you really drank too much, you wouldn’t even be able to perform. Everyone’s a man, we understand!

Fine, say he was drugged, but could he really not resist?

There are quite a few such incidents in Shengjing, but some people are truly steadfast in their will, preferring to harm themselves than fall into a trap, and he, who cherishes his reputation and name, had no way?

One can only say he went along with the flow.

The most outrageous claim was that he didn’t know about the pregnancy until the child was born. That makes even less sense. If someone drugged you, it’s to climb up the social ladder. If they succeeded but didn’t ask you to take responsibility, and even after getting pregnant, they kept silent until the birth—what, they just wanted your genes?

This explanation is full of holes!

The two men in their fifties thought that Qin Liuxi also realized that his explanation was full of holes. Why would he say this?

Mislead observers?

Indeed, Luan Bailin lifted his head and said, "Great General, a grave mistake has been made, and I have no defense. I know I’m not worthy to see you, so I’ll take my leave. Rest assured, I won’t stop searching for Yaoyao."

He’s going to flee!

Any prey with a bit of wit will try to escape when they sense danger, and Luan Bailin is no different.

He never underestimates anyone. From the first glance, Qin Liuxi made him feel threatened, and his actions were unconventional, making it hard for him to respond directly.

Adding the guilt to it, he could only boldly acknowledge the child’s existence and leave first.

Suddenly, the Great General heard Qin Liuxi’s voice: "You said there’s no hope of finding Zheng Yao, so you want to see the child."

He glanced at Qin Liuxi, seeing that his lips hadn’t moved—he was just watching the scene, which startled him: a transmission into the ear.

"Could I see the child?" the Great General asked, feigning deep sorrow.

Luan Bailin was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

The Great General closed his eyes, and upon reopening them, he said, "It’s been three years, and if we don’t acknowledge it now, Yaoyao might never be found again. My health is deteriorating day by day, and who knows when I’ll pass. If you truly have feelings, are willing to marry Yaoyao as your legitimate wife, this child can be under her name, and there will be someone to offer incense and memorials during festivals."

What kind of shift is this?

Lord Zuo’s eyes flickered, pretending to disagree, "Old Zheng, he hid this child for over two years, showing his poor nature, how can he be suitable for Miss Yao?"

"So, you’re saying Yaoyao won’t even have descendants to offer sacrifices after her?" The Great General became overwhelmed with sadness, tears streaming down.

The sadness was real, and the tears were real, sincere and heartfelt, because Zheng Yao was indeed no longer around. If there were no Zheng family members left, with no child, who would perform memorials?

Lord Zuo was speechless, flung his sleeve, and turned his face, seemingly infuriated. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Qin Liuxi gave him a thumbs-up: Well performed!

Lord Zuo: "..."

Is he mad, why does he feel a strange sense of pride?

"Don’t want me to see him?" The Great General, seeing Luan Bailin hesitate, frowned.

Luan Bailin shook his head: "I can’t take care of him alone. I’ve placed him with the old family clan; I must bring him back."

Hearing this, the Great General was somewhat disappointed.

Qin Liuxi instinctively sensed something wasn’t right, thinking it might be to avoid letting the Great General see the child.

"Forget it, you should go back." The Great General waved his hand.

Luan Bailin hesitated but said nothing, stood up, bowed, and turned to leave. However, once he turned away, his eyes revealed a deep gloom.

The child was part of his plan, but it was also about him actively bringing it in, deemed as a clan child, rather than being exposed, avoiding breaking his schemes.

And now, an unexpected change like Qin Liuxi appeared.

Damn it!

Luan Bailin didn’t look back but felt a gaze shadowing him like a thorn, making him uncomfortable.

He touched the Beads in his hand, taking a few deep breaths. The ancestors will save him.

Once Luan Bailin disappeared, the Great General urgently asked, "What’s going on, how did he suddenly have a child?"

"That’s not important. About this child, he doesn’t want you to see him," Qin Liuxi tapped the back of his hand, wondering why he was reluctant to let the Great General see this child.

Lord Zuo added, "What’s this child to do with Miss Yao? Is his disappearance related to her, did he really harm her?"

The Great General’s eyes narrowed, letting out a strained sound.

"I didn’t see any karma blood sin on him."

"What does that mean?"

Qin Liuxi explained, "If he harmed or killed someone, he would bear a sin of killing, or blood sin, because it’s karma; once done, he bears such karma. But he doesn’t have such karma on him, he’s quite clean. So far, on the surface, he just hid the fact that he has an illegitimate child."

The Great General let out a slight sigh of relief.

Lord Zuo also relaxed, "So he didn’t harm them, right?"

Qin Liuxi shook his head, "Not necessarily."

"Huh? Didn’t you say there’s no karma blood sin?"

"True, but I have a gut feeling he’s related to this matter." Qin Liuxi remarked seriously, "Although he doesn’t have karma blood sin, there’s a possibility he’s using a Magic Artifact to conceal or avoid being entangled with this sin. I noticed the Beads on his wrist were odd; when I tried to examine them, he refused. If it’s because the Magic Artifact has been blessed and he avoids others from touching it, then I wouldn’t even need to touch it, just a look should suffice. But as you recall what happened earlier, he avoided it, just like with the child’s matter, he deliberately avoided it."

The Great General turned pale, staggering slightly.